Most RV parks in the Essex, Massachusetts area operate seasonally from early spring through mid-fall. The region experiences coastal New England weather with summer temperatures averaging 80°F and cooler spring and fall seasons. Many campgrounds accommodate both weekly and monthly stays, particularly during non-peak times when rates often drop by 15-20%.
What to do
Golfing at campground courses: Hidden Valley RV and Golf Park in Derry, NH offers a 9 or 18-hole golf course with cart rentals. "This campground is 1300 acres owned and operated by the Simonsen family in Derry, NH. The main attraction of this campground is the golf course of 9 or 18 holes. There is a pro shop, golf cart rentals, etc."
Beach access options: Hampton Beach State Park Campground puts you steps from the ocean. "Hampton Beach SP is a small beachside campground for self-contained RVs only; if you're in a tent, you may want to look south to Salisbury SP just a few miles across the border into MA. That said, Hampton is a summer destination beloved by generations and this location puts you near the beach, a few miles from the boardwalk and all of its activities."
Water activities: Several campgrounds feature swimming and fishing options. "The pond is unusable, loud, dusty, golf cart speedway for seasonal campers," notes one camper about Tuxbury Pond, indicating water conditions can vary between properties.
What campers like
Well-maintained grounds: Seacoast Camping and RV Resort in North Hampton receives praise for its upkeep. "This is one of the cleanest, most meticulously maintained campground we have been to. So quiet and peaceful as well. Wifi service was exellent." Another camper noted, "This park really cares about appearance and grounds-keeping is top notch. Our site had a nice grassy space with a small garden planted with flowers."
Entertainment options: Several parks offer scheduled activities. At Tuxbury Pond RV Campground, a camper shared: "The live band was cool but we had golf carts & parked vehicles pretty much surrounding us & some right on our campsite, it was a little awkward. Then around 8, there was a gentleman that started setting up for a comedy show that they would be doing that night."
Proximity to regional attractions: Beach Rose RV Park in Salisbury provides convenient access to coastal activities. "Great location from the ocean and some nice towns to visit. Boston and Salem are very close and you can take a train which is only 5 minutes away from the campground."
What you should know
Site layout variations: Many parks have a mix of seasonal and transient sites with varying degrees of privacy. "Our site was in a field that was near the bathrooms. We were on S1, near a septic pipe & there was a severely nauseating, strong smell of sewage coming from it; we went to the front desk the next day & asked to move to S5, as we were the only ones on any of the 6 tent field sites."
GPS navigation challenges: Some campgrounds can be difficult to locate. At Tuxbury Pond, "A little tip about GPS: if you're using Apple Maps, it will likely take you to a turn that is not the campground entrance, there's even a hand-written sign on someone's lawn that has directions to the entrance (seems to happen frequently, I guess)."
Reservation systems: Pine Acres Resort and other campgrounds have specific booking procedures. "You do not get a choice during the online booking to choose the campsite to reserve & the site # is not included in the confirmation email. The mailbox that had our envelope in it was difficult to locate & we may have not found it if it weren't for a very kind camper that showed us."
Tips for camping with families
Pool facilities: Several campgrounds offer swimming pools as alternatives to beach access. "Beautiful campground, clean facilities, decently priced. The pool, playground, bathrooms, and basketball court were all open and well maintained," notes a visitor to Tuxbury Pond.
Playground availability: Thousand Trails Moody Beach provides family-friendly amenities. "We took our family of 5, and my mom for a weekend getaway! It was perfect. So much to do. Women's room by the tent sites had a couple problems, like a shower stall out of order, but not a big deal. Very quiet at night, which is helpful in such a family environment."
Scheduled activities: Many parks organize events for children. "For children, there is a swimming pool, a basketball court and a small playground," notes one camper, while another mentions, "There is a staff member came to our site and let us know that there is an 18+ comedy show but there was a children's movie being played on a big screen on the other side of the campground."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: When RV camping near Essex, Massachusetts, choose sites carefully for the best experience. "Sea Coast is very clean and well kept. Pull through sites, while close were arranged in such a way so that you are not next to the sewer hookup of your neighbor. A big plus for me."
Best access routes: Large rigs should plan their approach. "The roads in the park are fairly narrow and we had to drive over the grass across from our site in order to back in. Lucky for us nobody was parked in that site."
Off-season advantages: Spring and fall offer better availability. "We were there in the off-season (May) and didn't have any neighbors so it was pretty quiet. None of the sites have a lot of space between them and I bet this park could feel quite cramped when it was full."
